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Monday, December 19, 2011

Yeldon gives verbal to ‘Bama, AU fans in hysteria

Daphne High School (AL) running back T.J. Yeldon has officially decommitted from Auburn University and given his verbal commitment to the University of Alabama. Yeldon is expected to enroll at UA next month.

Yeldon, who is considered one of the top running backs in the nation in respect to the 2012 signing class, verbally committed to Auburn in June but changed that commitment Sunday afternoon.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound prospect was considered a “firm verbal” to Auburn, but in the wake of AU’s mediocre offensive production this season, coupled with the recent departure of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, Yeldon became a potential “flip” as the days moved forward.

Yeldon, who is regarded as a five-star talent per Rivals.com, has caused a major stir due to his recent verbal pledge to Alabama.

While fans of the Crimson Tide rejoice at the promise of adding yet another quality running back to the stable, Auburn fans have turned on Yeldon, his family, and virtually everyone associated with the University of Alabama.

Using social media and various message boards to proclaim displeasure, the “Auburn Family” is convinced that Alabama and Nick Saban provided Yeldon and his family with impermissible benefits in exchange for his football services.

While the conspiracy theories have kept AU fans busy, one can’t live on “cheap fiction” alone. Auburn fans have also directed scathing remarks towards Yeldon via Twitter and wished him virtually everything short of physical death.

“…Would never wish this on anyone but T.J. Yeldon, I hope you tear every ligament in your knee,” tweets AU fan @ChapmanTanner1.

Although the above remark has since been deleted and replaced with an apology, the original “tweet” was well documented courtesy of various Twitter users exploiting the “retweet” function.

Auburn’s “fan meltdown” is certainly nothing new and the “syndrome” has become even more pervasive since 2008. The lack of basic common sense, coupled with delusions of grandeur in respect to the “worth” of the AU football program, has created utter pandemonium more often than not.

In respect to the T.J. Yeldon saga, Auburn fans simply can’t believe a highly-touted recruit would dare take a “step down” and agree to WILLINGLY play for the University of Alabama. How could someone leave Auburn for Alabama without being paid?